Switch



Sept. 30 1924;

1,510,068 J. F. OMALLEY SWITCH Filed Jan. 26 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 30 I924. 1,510,068

J. F. OMALLEY SWITCH Filed Jan. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Ail in )cnfot 27;; 770 day 3 N m 2 w 6 8 9 w 3 0 w 2 2 M 0 a 2 my w I. 7 fiwm w m 0 Q N 2 6 3 A .J 3 H I 3 in use, durable in service,

Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OMALLEY, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

SWITCH.

Application filed January 26, 1922. Serial No. 531,963.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OMALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneva, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the-following is a specification.

This invention relates to. electric circuit closers, particularly to manually controlled switches, and has for its object the provision of a switch designed for use in closing any one of a lurality of circuits, the device being inten ed primarily for use in connection with such devices as automobile direction signals and the like wherein a plurality of incandescent bulbs or electromagnets may be selectively energized, it being understood, however, that I intend no limitation or restriction in this respect.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a switch which has a control handle or lever which operates with a movement similar to that of the gear shift lever of an automobile transmission control, means being moreover provided for holding said control lever at a selected position until positively moved by the operator.

Still another object is the provision of a switch of this character which isprovided with a telltale lamp which will be energized when the v cuit closing positions, the lamp thusoperating to remind the operator to cut off the current after a circuit has been closed for the necessary length of time to accomplish the end sought, the telltale lamp being for the further purpose of making the switch easily visible. 1

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, and installation, positive in action, efficient and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 switch.

Figure 2 is a side elevation is a front elevation of the thereof, a porswitch is in any of its cirtionof a suitable support being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged frontelevation with the front plate removed.

Figure 5 is a vertical section onthe line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a diagram of a plurality of circuits illustrating the utility of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. the numeral 10 designates a body or block of insulating material which has its central portion chambered out, as shown, to provide a lurality of recesses 11 which are similar. Secured upon the front of this block or body, is a face plate 12 which is secured thereto by means of a plurality of screws 13 or the like and which is provided with a plurality of holes 14 for the passage of suitable screws 15 by means of which the device may be secured upon the dash horizontal section on the of an automobile or in fact upon any support where its use is desired. In Figure 2 I have shown a support A against which the face plate is secured and which is pro vided with a recess B for the accommodation of the block or loodylO.v

Opposite the center of the chamber in the body 10 the face plate is formed with a partially spherical flange 16 which surrounds an opening of suitable size and which is formed with a plurality of notches 17 corresponding to the recesses 11. The purpose of this structure will be hereinafter made apparen The vface plate is also provided above the flange 16 with an opening 18 surrounded by a partially spherical outwardly extending flange 19 likewise for a purpose to be described.

Disposed upon the uppermost portion of the block or body 10 is a substantially semicircular bracket 20 formed with ears 21 which are secured upon the rear side of the block or body, as by means of screws 22. The periphery of the block or body 10 is partially cut away, as indicated at 23, to provide a recess coacting with the bracket 20 for the reception of the incandescent bulb 24 which projects somewhat beyond the flange 19' and it is preferable that the body 10 and the bracket be formed with a recess and hole 26, respectively, for the reception of the pins 27 which are commonly provided on incandescent bulbs of the type shown for the purpose of holding the bulb properly in position.

Located within the outermost ends of the recesses 11 are stationary L-shaped contacts 28 which are held in place by screws 29 passing through the back portion of thebody and carrying nuts 30. Located against the back wall of the body within the two aligning recesses 11 is a metallic strip 31 terminating in diverging resilient contact arms 32 designed to cooperate with the adjacent contacts 28. Also located within the chambered out portion and disposed against the strip 31 is. a strip 33 terminating in a resilient contact arm '34 designed for cooperation with the other contact 28. The members 31 and 33 are held in place by being provided with registering holes through which passes a reducedshank 35 formed on a metallic socket member 36 into which is threaded a screw 37 which passes through the back wall of the body. By this construction it will be seen that the members 31 and 33 will be held firmly within the body and with the arms 32 and 34 normally out of engagement with the contacts 28. This screw 37 also passes through a metallic contact stri I 38 which has its free end formed with a epression 39 disposed opposite and 1n eng gement with the central contact of the incandescent bulb 24. v

The numeral 40 designates the handle or control lever of the switch and this handle is formed with a ball-portion 41 which is revolubly engaged within the flange 16.

The lever may be formed entirely of insulatthe button being provided at its center with a depression 46 within which the pin engages for holding the lever in neutral positio In Figure l have shown circuits in which the switch is interposed, this showing being for illustrative purposes only as no restriction whatever is made as to the manner 'of use of the switch in so far'as circuits are concerned. In this figure T have shown three eleetro-magnets C, D- and E which might be for the purpose of operating the signal blades of an automobile signalingdei,aio,oee A vice or which might have any other purpose or which mi ht be for lights or similar devices. These electro-magnets are suitably connected with the various screws on the body and also preferably connected with certain of the screws 'is a source of current designated by the letter F. The arrange ment and connections are such that the incandescent bulb 24 will be in circuit with the source of current whenever the circuit is closed through any one of the electro-magnets, as will be readily apparent from the diagram Asstuning that the device has been constructed and assembled as above described, the operation is as follows Then the lever is in its neutral position, that is extending straight out from the face plate at right angles thereto, as shown in Figure 2, all of the contacts 32 and 34 will be out of engagement with the contacts 28 and no current will flow through the device at all. The lever is normally held in this inoperative positiofi by the engagement of the spring-pressed pin 45 within the cavity or depression 46. Whenever it is desired to close any. one of the circuits, the operator grasps the lever 40 and swings it so that its shank will engage within the proper one of the various notches 17 in the flange 16 on the face plate. When this is done it is apparent that the button 44 will be brought into engagement with the proper one of the contacts 32 or 34 and will move the same into engagement with the associated or adjacent contact 23, thereby closing the circuit not only through whatever electrical device is used in connection with the switch but also through the telltale lamp 24. The lamp will thus operate to apprise the operator that one of the circuits is closed and will thus remind him to return the switch to neutral position when the circuit through the particular element or device is no longer needed. Whenever the lever 40 is thus shifted to any one of its three operative positions, the engagement of the spring-pressed pin 45 with u the botton 44 will operate to hold the parts 111 such position until the lever is again positively moved.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it will be apparent that T have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive switch of a rather unique design which will be highly advantageous as combining in one device the functions of a plurality of switches, thus working for simplicity and convenience in operation. Owing to the fewne'ss of the parts, it is apparent that there is nothing to get out of order and that the device should consequently have a long life and satisfactorily perform all the functions for which it is intended.

While it have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim 1. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material chambered out to provide a plurality of intersecting recesses, stationary contacts mounted within said recesses, a plurality of contacting spring contacts located within the respective recesses and normally spaced from said stationary contacts, a face plate secured upon the body and covering said chambered out portion, said face plate being formed with a somewhat spherical flange surrounding an opening opposite the center of the chambered out portion of the body, a lever formed with a ball portion revolubly mounted within said flange and carrying a button of insulating material, said flange being formed with a series of notches corresponding to the number of recesses, said lever being engageable within a selected one of said notches whereby to bring said button into engagement with one of said spring contacts for forcing the latter into engagement with the associated contact, and means engaging the button for holding the lever in a selected position.

2. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material chambered out to provide a plurality of intersecting recesses, within said recesses, a plurality of contacting spring contacts located within the respective recesses and normally spaced from said stationary contacts, a face plate secured upon the body and covering said chambered out portion, said face plate being formed with a somewhat spherical flange surrounding an opening opposite the center of the chambered out portion of the body, a lever formed with a ball portion revolubly mounted within said flange and carrying a button 7 of insulating material, said flange being formed with a series of notches corresponding to the number of recesses, said lever be ing engageable within a selected one of said notches whereby to bring said button into engagement with one of said spring contacts for forcing the latter into engagement with the associated contact, a metallic member passing through said spring contacts at the contacting portions thereof and serving as retaining means therefor-, said member being formed with a socket, and a springpressed pin slidably mounted within said socket and engaging said button for holding the lever in a selected operative position.

3. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material stationary contacts mounted chambered out to provide a plurality of contacting spring contacts located within the respective recesses and normally spaced from said stationary contacts, a face plate secured upon the body and covering said chambered out portion, said face plate being formed with a somewh t spherical flange surrunding an opening opposite the center of the chambered out portion of the body, a lever formed with a ball portion revolubly mounted within said flange and carrying a button of insulating material, said flange being formed with a series of notches corresponding to the number of recesses, said lever being engageable within a selected one of said notches whereby to bring said button into engagement with one of said spring contacts for forcing the latter into engagement with the associated contact, a metallic member passing through said spring contacts at the contacting portions thereof and serving as retaining means therefor, said member being formed with a socket, and a spring-pressed pin slidably mounted within said socket and engaging said button for holding the lever in a selected operative position,

the free end of the button being formed with a depression receiving the pin for holding the lever in neutral position.

4. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material chambered out to provide a plurality of intersecting recesses, stationary contacts mounted within said recesses, a plurality of contacting spring contacts located within the respective recesses and normally spaced from said stationary contacts, a face plate secured 'upon the body and covering said chambered out portion, said face plate being formed with a somewhat spherical flange surrounding an opening opposite the center of the chambered out portion of the body, a lever formed with a ball portion revolubly mounted within said flange and carrying a button of insulating material, said flange being formed with a series of notches corresponding to the lever being engageable within a selected one of said notches whereby to bring said button into engagement with one of said spring contacts for forcing the latter into engagement with the associated contact, a bracket secured externally upon said body, the adjacent portion of the body ortion being cut away and mating with the racket to form a socket, an incandescent bulb mounted within said socket, said face plate ,being formed with an opening through which said bulb partially projects, and a metallic strip having one end connected with said spring contacts and having its other end engaging against the central contact of the bulb.

5. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material having a chamber therein, a metallic bushnumber of recesses, said ing extending through the body and having an enlarged portion located Within the chamber, a plurality of spring contacts Within the chamber arranged at angles to one'another and held in place by the en larged portion of the bushing, all or said contacts being electrically connected, a plurality of stationary contacts of angular shape secured Within the chamber and bearing agalnst the inner Wall thereof and arranged opposite to said first named contacts,

' tact.

6. A switch of the character described comprising a body of insulating material having a chamber therein, a metallic bushing extending through the body and having an enlarged portion located Within the Latc es chamber, a plurality of spring contacts Within the chamber arranged at angles ,to one another and held in place by the en larged portion of the bushing, all of said contacts being electrically connected, a,plu-' rality of stationary contacts of angular shape secured Within the chamber and bearing against the inner Wall thereof and arranged opposite to said first named contacts said first named contacts being normally spaced from said stationary contacts, a pivotally mounted lever extending into the chamber and having an extension engageable With a selected one of said first named contacts for forcing the same into engagement with the adjacent second named contact, said extension on the lever being of insulating material, and a spring-pressed plunger Within the bushing engaging said extension for holding the same at a selected position. r

In testimony whereof ll hereto atlin my signature.

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